Effects of tartar-control dentifrice on tooth sensitivity: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this three-week, double-blind pilot study was to assess the effects of a tartar-control dentifrice on tooth sensitivity.


METHODS
Fifty-six volunteer dental hygiene students completed a 14-item questionnaire regarding their oral health. Eighteen students were excluded from the study due to prior tooth sensitivity. Thirty-eight students were randomly assigned to either the experimental group using a tartar-control dentifrice (containing tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, PEG-6, disodium pyrophosphate, and tetrasodium pyrosulphate in a 5.0% soluble pyrophosphate formulation) or the control group using a regular dentifrice. Participants brushed for three weeks twice daily and then completed a post-treatment questionnaire, which included questions about tooth sensitivity. Differences between groups in reported sensitivity were measured by Fisher's Exact Test.


RESULTS
Fisher's Exact Test revealed a statistically significant difference in sensitivity experienced by the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.05), which reported no sensitivity. The phi coefficient, used to examine the strength of the relationship between tartar control paste and tooth sensitivity, was found significant at p < 0.02.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that patients may experience dentinal hypersensitivity when using the tartar-control toothpaste tested. Further long-term studies are required to test various brands of tartar-control dentifrice with a larger, more diverse sample for clinical measures of sensitivity.
Lavigne
S E
SE
Department of Dental Hygiene, Wichita State University, Kansas, USA.
Gutenkunst
L S
LS
Williams
K B
KB
D000328:Adult; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D003802:Dentifrices; D014100:Toothpastes